Arched jamb member and method of shipping and installing same

Abstract

An arched jamb member of elongate, strip-like shape for forming the upper end of an arched wall opening is preformed into an arch of predetermined curvature, and is of sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a flat condition for shipping and storage purposes. Once released from its flat condition, it will automatically spring back into an arched configuration.

1. An arched jamb, comprising:
 an elongate strip member having opposite upper and lower faces, opposite side edges, and opposite ends;  
 the strip member being formed into an arch of predetermined curvature; and  
 the strip member being of sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a substantially flat condition for shipping and storage purposes;  
 the upper face of the strip member being of predetermined width and having a row of parallel, transverse kerfs across at least part of the width of its upper face for providing sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a substantially flat condition; and  
 the kerfs being provided across a central region only of the upper face of the strip member, and an indented region of reduced thickness extends outwardly from the kerfs to each side edge.  
 
   
   
     2. The jamb as claimed in  claim 1 , including a pair of arcuate side members, each side member being of predetermined shape and dimensions for transverse sliding engagement in a respective indented region along one side of the row of kerfs. 
   
   
     3. The jamb as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of upstanding ribs are defined between adjacent kerfs, the ribs having opposite ends facing the respective indented regions, each rib end having a recess, and each side strip having an inner side edge having an outwardly projecting flange for engagement in said rib end recesses to retain the side strip in the indented region. 
   
   
     4. The jamb as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the strip member has end portions of predetermined dimensions which have no kerfs, the kerfs and indented side regions extending between said end portions, each end portion having an inner end face with an undercut recess facing the respective indented side regions, and each side strip having outwardly projecting flanges at each end for engagement in said undercut recesses in said end portions to retain the side strip in the indented region. 
   
   
     5. An arched jamb assembly, comprising:
 an elongate strip member having opposite upper and lower faces, opposite side edges, and opposite ends;  
 the strip member being formed into an arch of predetermined curvature; and  
 the strip member being of sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a substantially flat condition for shipping and storage purposes;  
 a pair of upright jamb members, each jamb member having an upper end and an angled cut at its upper end; and  
 the strip member having angled cuts at its opposite ends for mating engagement in the angled cuts at the upper ends of the upright jamb members in forming an arched wall opening.  
 
   
   
     6. The jamb as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the strip member is of plastic material pre-formed into an arched shape. 
   
   
     7. The jamb as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the upper face of the strip member is of predetermined width and has a row of parallel, transverse kerfs across at least part of the width of its upper face for providing sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a flat condition. 
   
   
     8. The jamb as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the strip member has end portions of predetermined dimensions which have no kerfs, the row of kerfs extending between the end portions. 
   
   
     9. The jamb as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the kerfs extend across the entire width of the upper face of the strip member. 
   
   
     10. The jamb as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the strip member has end portions of predetermined thickness and a central region of reduced thickness extending between the end portions, the reduced thickness region being sufficiently flexible to allow it to be forced flat. 
   
   
     11. An arched jamb, comprising:
 an elongate strip member having opposite upper and lower faces, opposite side edges, and opposite ends;  
 the strip member being formed into an arch of predetermined curvature; and  
 the strip member being of sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a substantially flat condition for shipping and storage purposes;  
 the upper face of the strip member being of predetermined width and having a row of parallel, transverse kerfs across at least part of the width of its upper face for providing sufficient flexibility to enable it to be forced into a substantially flat condition;  
 the opposite side edges of the strip member each having an outwardly facing indented region extending at least along the row of kerfs; and  
 a pair of arcuate side members, each side member being of predetermined shape and dimensions for transverse sliding engagement in a respective indented region along a respective side of the row of kerfs.